Rotary combustion-engine.



No. 783,434. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. H. HOLZWARTH.

ROTARY COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2B. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y6? No. 783,434. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. H. HOLZWARTH.

ROTARY GOMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED sBPT.'28, 190s.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

ROTARY oolylBusTloN-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 783,434, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed September 28, 1903. Serial No. 174,906.

'To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANs HoLzwAR'rH, acitizen of Germany, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee,and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Combustion-Engines, of wh ich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to internal-combustion engines.

The object of my invention is to provide means for the practical application of the direct force developed by combustion in the operation of a turbine.

In an ordinary turbine no means are provided for compressing combustible gases nor for confining such gases during ignition even though a preliminary compression were provided for.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of separate expansible combustionchambers in which a compression may be secured (at least a final compression) and which will offer suiicient resistance to the initial pressure of the burning gases to produce a complete ignition and then deliver the gases into the turbine in a manner to develop the highest efficiency.

My invention also contemplates utilizing the force expended in expanding one combustion-chamber to produce a final compression in another similar chamber, the arrangement being such that a four-cycle movement is secured by successiveignitions in a set of four chambers without reference to the movement of the turbine and entirelyindependent thereof.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of my invention, drawn partly in central vertical section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the inlet end with the valve-actuating connections omitted and the connecting-ducts and supply-chambers shown diagrammatically. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of acylinder-head and the valveactuating' levers and valves. Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of the valve-actuating connections.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The stationary member l of the turbine is `provided with a head-plate 2 at the inlet end,

on which are mounted a set of compressionchambers 3, 4E, 5, and 6. These chambers are illustrated as cylinders provided with pistons 8, having connecting-rods 9 attached to an oscillating ring 10, mounted on a hub Il, which `projects from the head-plate 2 and through which the turbine-shaft 12 extends. The connecting-rods 9 extend tangentially to the ring lO, whereby the movement of any piston is communicated to oscillate the ring, and thereby actuate the other pistons correspondingly. The compression-chambers are, however, arranged in pairs, with those of one pair at right angles to those of the other pair, and the connecting-rods of each pair are attachedto the ring on opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby an outward movement of one piston will communicate a similaimovement to one piston of the other pair and an inward movement to one piston of each pair. Each chamber is provided with a gas-inlet valve l5, an air-inlet valve l16, and an igniter 17 of any o1'- dinary type, also with an outlet-port 20, which leads through the head-plate 2 and constitutes a nozzle for the discharge of the gases of combustion against the initial set of vanes 21 of the turbine. closed by the pistons, but are opened when the piston is substantially at the limit of its outward stroke. The chambers are charged from any suitable source of supply, represented in the drawings by a tank 23, pipes 24, and branch pipes 25 for gas and a tank 27, pipes 28, and branch pipes 29 for air.

Valves 81 control the admission of water under pressure to the compression-chambers of gases into the ducts 34.

These ports 20 are normally I IOO The turbine may be of any ordinary type, except that the initial vane-supporting disks A B are of large diameter and the nozzles A' B are formed for a rapid conversion of the energy of the gases, which then enter the annular chamber 35 at a comparatively low pressure and are delivered at a less radius through the nozzles C to the vanes C. The remaining` series of nozzles and vanes may be substantially the same in arrangement and construction as in any ordinary turbine.

The several compression chambers are charged and fired in alternation, the outward movement of a piston driven by a fired charge being communicated to expel the products of combustion in one of the other chambers, draw in a fresh charge in another chamber, and compress a fresh charge in another. A complete four-cycle movement of each piston is thus provided for in correspondence with successive explosions in the respective chambers, the initial force of each charge when fired being utilized to operate the pistons and the remainder to operate the turbine. The compression of a charge in one chamber provides an elastic cushion, which relieves the shock on the piston directly driven by the charge.

The valves 15 and 16, 31 and 36 are each normally closed by springs 40. Cam-shafts 41 and 42, connected by bevel-gearing 43, are driven from the turbine-shaft by a worm-gear 44 and worm-wheel v45. These shafts are'provided with sets of cams 47, one for each valve, and motion is communicated from each cam to its corresponding valve through a suitable push-rod 49, Valve-actuating lever 50, and valve-stem 51. The cams are positioned upon the shafts to open the valves at the proper intervals. The push-rods 49 for operating' the gas-valves 15 and those for operating the water-valves 3l are mounted in bearings 54 and are resiliently supported by springs 55. A governor 56 of ordinary construction is used to control the supply of gas and water to the compression-chamber through the medium of the rod 58, bell-crank 59, bar 61, valve-levers 62 and 63, and valves at 64 and 65, controlling the iiow of gas and water through the pipes 24 and 32, respectively. i

In operation, assuming' that the chamber 3 is charged and fired, the expansion of the burning gases pushes the piston outwardly and communicates motion through the ring and connecting-rods to move the piston of chamber 5 outwardly and draw in a charge of gas and air through the admission-valves of that chamber. Simultaneously the piston of chamber 4 moves inwardly to compress a charge therein, all the valves of this chamber being closed. The piston of chamber 6 is also moved inwardly to expel the residue of the preceding charge and the steam produced by the incoming water, the valves 31 and 36 of this chamber being open and the contents of the chamber being driven forcibly into the turbine at 35 and its remaining energy utilized. When the piston of chamber 3 reaches the limit of its stroke, the expanding gases are delivered into the turbine, and the charge in chamber 4 being then fired an opposite movement of the pistons and ring is produced in which the residual gases are expelled from chamber 3 through the valve 36 and a fresh charge drawn into chamber 7 with compression in chamber 5.'

In the drawings I have shown the various parts of the turbine provided with water cavities or passages 60. These are preferably supplied or provided with a circulating current from the water-duct 32. These passages may be varied inform and location as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with aturbine; of a plurality of cylinders having discharge-ports arranged to constitute initial nozzles for the turbine; pistons in said cylinders; an oscillatory element; connections between said element and the respective pistons; means, controlled by the turbine, for admitting and igniting combustible charges in the several cylinders in succession; and means for opening said discharge-ports during the forward movement of the piston under pressure of the ignited charge.

2. The combination with a turbine; of a series of compression-chambers having nozzleports communicating with the turbine at its inlet end; a piston in each of said chambers; and connections between the pistons of the respective chambers; said connections being arranged to transmit similar motion from one piston to another and a reverse motion to two of the other pistons; means for ad mittingcombustible charges to the respective chambers successively and igniting such charges; a valved passage leading from each chamber to the low-pressure portion of the turbine intermediate of the inlet and discharge ends; and means for opening said passage during the next return movement. of the piston after the ignition of the chargeJ in such chamber.

3. The combination with a turbine, of a device mounted to oscillate loosely on a suitable support at the inlet end of the turbine; a set of expansion-chambers each having a movable element connected with said oscillatory device; means for introducing combustible charges into said expansion-chambers; means for igniting such charges in succession; and means for delivering the gases of combustion from each chamber to the turbine after actuating said movable element.

4. The combination with a turbine, of adevice mounted to oscillate loosely on a suitable support at the inlet end of the turbine; a set of expansion-chambers each having a movable element connected with said oscillatory device;

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means for introducing combustible charges into said expansion-chambers; means for igniting such charges in succession; and means for delivering the gases of combustion from each chamber to the turbine after actuating said movable element; said oscillatory device and the movable elements oi' the several expansion-chambers being arranged to transmit the Jforce of expansion in one chamber to compress the gases in another chamber.

5. The combination with a turbine having a plurality of running wheels; of a set of expansion-chambers provided with means for compression and ignition of explosive charges; means for delivering the gases of combustion from said chambers to the initial running wheel of theturbine during the period of combustion of such gases; and means for delivering the residual gases to other running wheels of the turbine.

6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination ot' a turbine; a compression-chambcr having a normally closed port leading to the initial set of vanes in the turbine; and another normally closed port leading directly to thelow-pressure portion of the turbine; means for igniting charges in said chamber; and means for opening the first-mentioned port during the expansion of an ignited charge, and opening said last-mentioned port for theV expulsion of the residual products of combustion. l

7. ln an internalcombustion engine, the combination ot' a turbine; a compression-chamber having a normally closed port leading to the initial set oi' vanes in the turbine, and another normally closed port leading' directly to the low-pressure portion of the turbine; means for igniting charges in said chamber; and means for opening' the first-mentioned port during the expansion of an ignited charge, and opening said last-mentioned port Jfor the expulsion of the residual products of combustion together with means for injecting water into said chamber during the expulsion of such residual products. l

8. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a turbine; a compression-chamber having a normally closed port leading to the initial set of vanes inthe turbine, and another normally closed port leading directly to the low-pressure portion of the turbine; means for igniting charges in said chamber; and means for opening the first-mentioned port during the expansion of an ignited charge, and opening said last-mentioned port for the expulsion of the residual products of combustion; together with a governor in operative relation to the'turbine; and connections therefor, adapted to regulate the admission of com-. bustible charges.

9. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination ot' a turbine; acompression-chamber having a normally closed port leading to the initial set of vanes in the turbine, and another normally closed port leading directly to the low-pressu re portion of the turbine; means for igniting charges in said chamber; and means for opening the first-mentioned port during the expansion of an ignited charge, and opening' said last-mentioned port for the expulsion of the residual products of combustion; together with means for injecting water into said chamber during the expulsion of such residual products; together with a governor in operative relation to the turbine, and connections therefor. adapted to regulate the admission of water and of combustible charges. to said chamber.

IO. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a combustion-chamber.; and a turbine having plurality otl series ot' vanes and corresponding inlet-nozzles connected with said chamber; said turbine having the vanes ot' the initial series, at greater radial distances from the axis than those of succeeding series, and the initial nozzles constructed for a more rapid conversion of the energy of the gases than those pertaining to the vanes at the shorter radii.

l1. rIhe combination with a turbine, of a set ot' cylinders, located at the inlet end thereof; a piston in each cylinder connected with the pistons oi' each of the other cylinders and unconnected with power-transmitting devices of the turbine,each o't' said cylinders being provided with a port near each end communicating with the turbine; one of said ports being covered by the piston, except when the latter is near the limit of its outward movement; a valve for the other of said ports; means for introducing and igniting charges in said cylinders and means for opening said valve during the return stroke of the piston.

l2. The combination with a turbine, of a set of cylinders, located at the inlet end thereof; a piston in each cylinder connected with the pistons of each of the other cylinders and unconnected with power-transmitting devices of the turbine; each of said cylinders being provided with a port near each end communicating with the turbine; one of said ports being covered by the piston, except when the latter is near the limit of its outward movement; a valve for the other of said ports; means for introducing and igniting charges in said cylinders and means for opening said valve during the return stroke of the piston, together with means for introducing a jet of water to each cylinder during'the return stroke of its corresponding piston.

In testimony whereof` I atlx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Y HANS HoLZWARTi-I.`

Witnesses:

VLnvERE'rT C. NVHEELER, J As'. B. ERWIN.

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